Hot start getting worse - upgrading the starter?

[Robertjp]

I have been having ever worsening problems with starting her up when hot, to the point where i seriously thought she wasnt going to fire at the weekend after getting fuel.

Reading around, i have seen posts by petrolheadpete and ochten that they have upgraded to a 1.7kw starter from the standard 1.3kw. I think this is the way to go rather than just replace the standard one like for like.

Trouble is, i have found the part numbers for the upgraded replacement (from a BMW e34 M5), and my options are eBay and my local motor factor supplier. Local place can source a German built starter for £90, but its not genuine Bosch, in fact i cant find anywhere that will supply genuine bosch.

Those guys that have done this, did you source genuine bosch or just go with what was available? Advantage of going local, will come with a warranty and i can take it back if i have any problems!

[Robertjp]

gavgavgav said:

If you hav not already, run a jump lead from the -ve terminal of the battery and clip it to a metal part the engine somewhere, see if it cranks faster when hot. This will rule out bad earthing.

Hmm, thanks for the advice on the bad earth, but if this was the case wouldnt there be an issue when starting from cold too?? I never have an issue with a cold engine, cranks quickly.

I think all the earths are OK, but could be worth a check, will try this approach anyway as a quick check thanks.

[Robertjp]

ruta87 said:

Have you tried german and sweedish? or euro car parts. I know German and Swedish generally have all stuff for BMW Audi and Merc. I used to use them alot when i had my audi and they seem to have everything and a plentiful amount of bosch stuff.

Give them ago! http://www.gsfcarparts.com/index.html

Thanks,

Just registered and had a look. Price is £90 plus a £50 surcharge for return of old item, which clearly i wont have Doesnt appear to be genuine bosch again either which is a shame, may just go with the local one.

[Robertjp]

Sorry i should have explained the symptoms and how i have arrived at the conclusion that its likely to be the starter itself.

The car has been difficult to start once warm for a while now, turning over is laboured and slow when hot (vs quick and unhindered when cold), almost as if the battery is flat. Same symptoms as the other guys that have experienced this (see links) and it seems the starter just gives up after a while.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...


She will only fire when hot if you feather the throttle slightly, (which isn’t so bad once its hot, but i wouldn’t want to do it when cold).

Then Saturday, i turned the key, and got nothing but a click! I assume this was the starter relay, did this twice, then third time the starter moved. This is likely to be a sticking starter solenoid i guess.

Battery and alternator & belt have been replaced within the last two years and car is garaged and permanently on accumate. The engine has been out in the last 18 months which suggests that the engine earth strap should be seated well and without corrosion, but i will check it. The earth in the battery box is definitely ok, that was checked two weeks ago as were the battery conections. I would have thought that if the earth was a problem symptoms would be the same hot or cold??

I will check the starter connections too...

[Robertjp]

haircutmike said:

I had exactly those symptoms on my chim.

I had a spare earth cable, bolted it from chassis to engine block and the problem dissapeared!

Next, I removed all earths, cleaned up contact points and bolted tight, job done.

Hmm, ok thanks, definitely worth a try before i replace the starter then!

[Robertjp]

well, update. Im pissed off, again.

Got under the car and there was definitely corrosion on the chassis side of the earth strap, (but the powder coat had been ground off, so there is a bonus ) it wasnt bad, but cleaned back to bright metal on the chassis and strap and bolted back together. That isnt the bit im annoyed about.

Whilst it was up in the air with the wheel off it was a ten minute job to whip the battery out and take it over to halfords this morning to get it checked.

It was replaced when i first bought the car in May 09 and so i had assumed it would be ok, or exchnaged under warranty, but when in fact i gave them the battery to check they duly informed me that there was 'noise' and the battery was only holding 71% chareg (should have been full). I asked them if they would replace it and they then told me it wasnt a halfords battery!!! I have the receipt and handed them the copy, well upon investigation it wasnt the battery i bought!!! This is why im pissed off....it seems when dream machines did my engine installation after Str8 Six rebuilt it, they have me someone elses battery. I never thought to check at the time, throught nothing more of it...until today.

So, £85 later for yet another battery (they gave me 20% off a new one which i guess is good of them)...im not a happy bunny.

[Robertjp]

Yes, im less than impressed too, for a whole host of reasons!! This is yet another on the list.

i just hope that a cleaned up earth strap and a new battery sorts out the hot starts otherwise im for another £90 odd!!!!!!

[Robertjp]

Well, pleased to say that the new battery and cleaned up earth have made a difference...hot starting no issue at all today...thanks for making me think twice gents, saved me some money

[Robertjp]

msmit660 said:

Did you clean the earth strap on the engine block just below the airbox or where is connects to the chassis below the foot peddles?

I cleaned the earth strap that connects to the chassis at the engine mount, the engine block side was clean of corrosion, i think there is only one n the engine so i guess we are talking about the same....